A beacon signal including image information and an application to cause acknowledgment of receipt of the beacon signal is transmitted in order to measure approximate latency in transmission over a communication link that exhibits latency such as a packet switched digital network. Transmission latency for image information for an image included in a web conference is then estimated and elapsed time after transmission of such image information is measured and an indication provided to a presenter or conference monitor when the image should be visible to a conference participant which can be easily selected by the presenter.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for synchronizing presentation of content of a web conference over a real-time communication link with content over another communication link which includes data latency, said method including transmission of a beacon message containing image data and software for transmitting an acknowledgment of receipt of said image data to determine approximate latency time of said another communication link, sending a web conference image, determining elapsed time subsequent to said sending of said web conference image, and displaying an indication to a web conference presenter when said elapsed time equals or exceeds a time corresponding to said approximate latency time.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 , including the further step of displaying said indication to a web conference monitor.
3. A method as recited in claim 2 , including the further step of displaying an indication to a web conference presenter when said elapsed time approaches a time corresponding to said approximate latency time.
4. A method as recited in claim 2 , including the further step of comparing a parameter of said web conference image to a corresponding parameter of said beacon message.
5. A method as recited in claim 4 , wherein said parameter of said web conference includes a includes message length or image complexity.
6. A method as recited in claim 4 , including the further step of adjusting said approximate latency is scaled and/or augmented based on a result of said comparing step.
7. A method as recited in claim 2 , including a further steps of monitoring said another communication link, and repeating said step of transmission of a beacon message when said monitoring step detects a change in said another communication link.
8. A method as recited in claim 2 , including the further step of selecting an approximate latency time corresponding to a participant in said web conference.
9. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein said indication to a web conference presenter comprises a change in visual appearance of a display area or icon.
10. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein said indication to a web conference presenter is in the form of an image of a traffic signal.
11. A method as recited in claim 1 , including the further step of displaying an indication to a web conference presenter when said elapsed time approaches a time corresponding to said approximate latency time.
12. A method as recited in claim 1 , including the further step of comparing a parameter of said web conference image to a corresponding parameter of said beacon message.
13. A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said parameter of said web conference includes a includes message length or image complexity.
14. A method as recited in claim 12 , including the further step of adjusting said approximate latency is scaled and/or augmented based on a result of said comparing step.
15. A method as recited in claim 1 , including a further steps of monitoring said another communication link, and repeating said step of transmission of a beacon message when said monitoring step detects a change in said another communication link.
16. A method as recited in claim 1 , including the further step of selecting an approximate latency time corresponding to a participant in said web conference.
17. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said indication to a web conference presenter comprises a change in visual appearance of a display area or icon.
18. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said indication to a web conference presenter is in the form of an image of a traffic signal.
19. Apparatus for conducting a web conference comprising a transmitter to transmit an audio portion of said web conference over a communication link, a transmitter to transmit image information of said web conference over another communication link exhibiting latency, a generator to transmit a beacon signal over said another communication link, a processor to determine approximate latency of said beacon signal in said another communication link, a timer for measuring elapsed time from transmission of said image information, and a display, responsive to said timer for indicating when said elapsed time equals or exceeds said approximate latency.
20. A method for synchronizing presentation of content of a web conference over a real-time communication link with content over another communication link which includes data latency, said method including configuring a data processor to provide a transmitter to transmit image information of said web conference over another communication link exhibiting latency, configuring a data processor to provide a generator to transmit a beacon signal over said another communication link, configuring a data processor to provide a processor to determine approximate latency of said beacon signal in said another communication link, configuring a data processor to provide a timer for measuring elapsed time from transmission of said image information, and displaying, responsive to said timer, an indication of when said elapsed time equals or exceeds said approximate latency.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
January 16, 2012
August 5, 2014
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